Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/232934

Title

Excited state coherent dynamics in light-harvesting complexes from photosynthetic marine algae

Author(s)

Richards, G. H.;  Wilk, K. E.;  Curmi, P. M. G.;  Quiney, H. M.;  Davis, J. A.

Abstract

We explore coherence dynamics in light-harvesting complexes and their interactions with other electronic states and vibrational modes. This is achieved by utilizing a two-colour four-wave mixing spectroscopy to excite and analyse a specific coherence pathway in the phycocyanin-645 (PC645) light-harvesting complex. We observe the dephasing rate increase as a function of temperature and oscillations in the signal intensity as a function of waiting time which reveals coherent excitation of pathways not directly resonant with the laser pulses. This coherent excitation of non-resonant electronic states implies strong coupling to phonon modes, which is necessary if coherent energy transfer between non-resonant states is to play any role in photosynthetic energy transfer.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences. Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy

Source

Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Vol. 45, no. 15 (Aug 2012), article no. 154015

Publication year

2012

FOR Code(s)

0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics;  0205 Optical Physics;  0307 Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Keyword(s)

Coherence dynamics;  Coherent excitations;  Excited states;  Light-harvesting complexes;  Marine algae;  Photosynthetic energy transfer

Publisher

Institute of Physics Publishing

ISSN

0953-4075

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/45/15/154015

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Additional information

The authors acknowledge support from the Australian Research Council.

Peer reviewed